Embed-EU: Interview with doc. Houžvička

Project number: 2023-1-NL01-KA220-HED-000157332
Period: 1. 11. 2023 – 31. 10. 2025

Distinguished expert and head of the Department of Law and Political Science, our colleague Václav Houžvička, is deeply engaged in various areas, including euroregions, cross-border cooperation between the Czech Republic and Germany, communication, and PR. Additionally, he explores the relationship between the external and internal policies of states, particularly Germany’s role in Central Europe, and the social implications of historical memory within Czech society.

On February 29, 2024, we conducted an interview with the aim of identifying cases of integrating EU values into higher education. We sought to capture real-life scenarios regarding the usefulness, advantages, and feasibility of actively incorporating these values.

During our conversation, we discussed the subjects taught under Professor Houžvička’s guidance, the teaching methods employed, and the precise process of integrating all EU values we identified: 1) Human dignity, 2) Freedom, 3) Democracy, 4) Equality, 5) Rule of law, 6) Human rights, and promoting the European way of life.

From our discussion, it became evident that all these values are integrated and presented in students’ exercises and presentations. However, perhaps the “European way of life” is the only value not yet incorporated. Nevertheless, based on the feedback received, there is consideration for including this topic in future teaching.

The purpose of the presentations prepared by students is to compel them to structure their thoughts into theses on slides. Instead of reading continuous texts, students are required to deliver a live verbal presentation, supported by graphical outputs in their slides, to demonstrate their understanding of the topic. Moreover, they must navigate and structure the problem presented in the expert texts. These exercises help students overcome stage fright, with the understanding that making mistakes is part of the learning process in this environment.

We concluded the interview with positive feedback from students, highlighting how these subjects significantly influence the hundreds of students each year.

Embedding EU values in teaching and learning in higher education

Project number: 2023-1-NL01-KA220-HED-000157332
Period: 1. 11. 2023 – 31. 10. 2025